When we took on this Wimberley vacation rental, it was a 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom log cabin already operating as a short-term rental. It had good bones. What it didn’t have was the right positioning.
Today, it’s Cowboy Surf Lodge — one of our top-performing properties in the Texas Hill Country. Here’s what we changed, and what it did to the numbers.
The Property
A 4-bed, 4-bath log cabin already operating as a short-term rental in Wimberley, TX. The structure was solid. But the outdoor spaces, the interior styling, and the overall story the home told to guests hadn’t been developed — so it was competing on price instead of experience.
What We Did
We redesigned the outdoor spaces and refreshed the interior from top to bottom. Every design decision was intentional, built around one goal: create a serene, elevated escape that actually stands out in a market full of Hill Country cabins.
That meant:
– Upgrading the pool and expanding the outdoor living area
– Adding a fire pit, a barrel sauna, and private gathering spaces
– Refreshing the interior with a clear, story-driven design point of view rather than generic furnishings
The Transformation
The outdoor space became the centerpiece of the entire guest experience — not an afterthought. Where the property once had an underused yard, it now has a fully designed outdoor living environment built for groups: string lights over a dining table, a barrel sauna, a fire pit, and a pool built for both relaxing and gathering.
The Results
We didn’t just refresh a cabin — we repositioned it. Here’s what that did to performance:
- 45% revenue increase over AirDNA’s original projection
- $850 average daily rate (ADR)
- 95% occupancy during summer high season
- $14,000 average monthly cash flow
- 34% cash-on-cash return
- 30+ five-star reviews in under a year
What This Means for Your Property
Design and positioning change everything — this is what we do for every property we take on, whether it’s a full redesign like this one or lighter styling and staging work. If your short-term rental has good bones but isn’t performing the way it should, the fix usually isn’t more marketing spend. It’s a clearer story.
If you’re weighing Wimberley vacation rental management options and wondering whether your home is priced and positioned correctly, see how our Full Service and Partner Program management tiers work at our Host Services page.
Or call us at (512) 815-8157
Stay in wonder. 🤍